Jim couldn't figure out just yet who was doing the stalling. Was al Qaeda using Zaman to buy time? Or could Zaman perhaps be in cahoots with al Qaeda and delaying the fight to allow the enemy to consolidate its forces, reposition, or even escape?
"Jim intuitively decided that Zaman was dirty.� �� �
"While Jim was dealing with Zaman, I dialed up Ashley on the satellite phone and filled him in. He agreed that we had to let the alleged surrender run its course until 5:00 PM, since we really had no choice.� �� �
p. 243 � ���"With the two original observations posts forced to shut down because of the advancing "forces" an opportunity presented itself to increase the relentless pursuit of bin Laden.
We now had twelve Green Berets out of a job (They had manned the posts which were now too far in the rear to be effective.), and several of General Ali's subordinate commanders "were begging for commandos to direct bombs along their particular axis of advance. We wanted to oblige, as this would give us better visibility and at the same time provide firm locations on each group of muhj. With the Green Berets from Cobra 25 (one of the posts) now available, problem solved. Or so I thought. (General Hazret Ali was Zaman's senior warlord.)
The decision to not allow them to enter the mountains dumbfounded me and frustrated the quiet professionals from Cobra 25. The Green Berets were now out of the fight completely� �� �
p. 246-247 � ���"The dreadful weather also was playing havoc with some of the aircraft flying missions to blast the mountainous position, and visibility would change by the hour. We had to replace the fire support of those planes during the bad weather with some organic all-weather assets as soon as possible. The Rangers back at Bagram owned just such weapons, and we put in several requests from some Ranger mortars. Request denied. The reasons elude me still, particularly, since some of their officers told me that they were anxious to comply and get into the fight.� �� �
p. 248 � ���"When MSS Grinch had moved into the mountains days earlier, we had been unable to locate or bargain for donkeys (to move supplies). MSS Monkey had some, but even a donkey had its limits in this place. Once Grinch entered the radically steep terrain where they were now fighting, donkeys wouldn't have helped at all.
We had another idea, and we once again went back to the Rangers" Two platoons of Rangers were sitting around back at Bagram, and we asked for one platoon to help. They could serve as a human logistics train from the last vehicle drop-off point in the foothills all the way up to MSS Grinch, which was located several klicks away and at an elevation several thousand meters higher. Rangers could do what helicopters and mules could not. Request denied. Again, I never learned the reasons for that refusal.� �� �
p. 294 � ���"Leaving the back door open gave the rat a chance to run.� �� �
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